37 weeks

37 weeks today! Here's the belly photo.



I'm still 40.25".

I had my first weekly PNA this past week, and I saw Nurse Wonderful. She's still wonderful. =) But I lost 2 lbs since my prior appt and she was a little concerned. She said I've only gained 9lbs since 27 weeks. I think overall my weight gain is still good - 29lbs and my belly measurements are still right on track. But she said now is the time I should be gaining some weight b/c baby needs all the fat he can get. I chalk up the weight loss to the work hours I've been putting in. I've been working like crazy and therefore have not had time to blog or catch up on blogs at all. On top of that, I've been dealing with our house being in escrow (yay!) and of course, having a baby! Whew! But I'm handling it all in stride, and I'm doing ok. I've been trying to make sure I eat three square meals each day, and now I'm trying to make sure I have a snack in between each meal. That should do it. Who knows though, I may just be one of those people that gain all their weight in the beginning of the pregnancy.

I asked her to see if she could estimate how big the baby was at that appointment and she said he's about 6lbs. She said if I go all the way to 40 weeks, she'd guess he'd be born at 7.5 to 8 lbs. Sounds good to me! =) I'm soooo ready for him to come now, but I think he'll probably wait till it gets closer to the DD. He's still head down and will likely stay that way for birth. Good boy!

I've got one more baby shower next weekend, and I'm excited for it. It'll be with all of my friends. =) Despite having one more baby shower, I couldn't help but get some of the things I still needed this weekend when I returned that expensive BRU bed set (I did keep the receipts though, just incase I need to return stuff). I picked up the baby monitor we wanted (the Sony 900), a changing table cover, a mattress pad, some baby detergent (so I can start washing baby's clothes and sheets), some Avent bottles, a bottle warmer (so daddy can feed Kaua breast milk too) and some baby beenies (how much do you think I'll need of those? I didn't know I already had 3, and I bought 3 more to make 6...too much??? We'll be moving to a colder area soon, so I want to be sure baby is warm). I still want to get a couple crib sheets and one or two sheet savers, but that'll be for the next go round. After getting that, and the breast pump and sling/carrier I'm hoping to get from the baby shower (I know, I sound presumptuous dont I?), I think we'll be as ready as we can be for Kaua to come. woohoo, I'm excited!!! 3 more weeks to go, and hopefully less than that. If my DD comes and goes without Kaua's appearance, I'm going to go crazy!

I'm planning to talk to the boss that's been giving me all this work on Monday to let her know that I'd like to scale back my work the week of November 30 since that's the week of my DD, and I think she'll be understanding. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that when I told another boss about my not so concrete situation with moving and escrow (if escrow goes well, we move out 12/22, if not, then no moveout date as of yet) and the possibility that my last day of work may be the day I give birth, he was very supportive. He said not to worry, just let them know when I know for sure, and not to worry about medical insurance because they'll be prepaying for that month anyways. =) I was worried that they would want a more definite date (I cant give them one until all of the escrow dates where the buyer can pull out have passed - so far we passed the C-52 inspection, but the biggie is whether the appraisal will come in at the price the buyers' are paying which will enable them to get their financing with their lender!), but he was very understanding. I'm really really glad I work for this firm and I'm sad to be leaving (somewhat sad at least). I know I'm not cutout to do this line of work because I'm too much of a nice guy and my feelings get hurt when I deal with a-holes that come in this line of work. I do know that if I was to continue working in this profession, my plan would always be to work for this firm. I look at my leaving the firm as a way to explore a new career, something that I'll enjoy doing every day.

Anyways, last but not least, my DH and I are celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversary this weekend (the date was actually on the 10th but DH was out of town. And you know what I just realized, that means that this is the 1 year anniversary of this blog as well, b/c I remember my first entry on this blog was on our wedding anniverary, so happy blogoversary to me too! My how things have changed from that day to this!). DH and I exchanged gifts last night - cotton - he bought me a very cute sweater/top from the town where he is stationed at (in a size for when I'm back to my regular prepregnancy shape, which I hope will be soon, I miss my cute clothes!) , and I bought him boxer shorts with embroidery on it that says "Property of B MoM" as well as an Itouch armband for him to use when he's working out. (Obviously since money is tight, our budget for gifts is minimal). Tonight we're going to a nice dinner which will be our first since we've been pregnant!, and we're realizing that this will also be the last time as just the two of us. Next weekend he'll be working out of town, and the weekend after that is Thanksgiving and my mom will be here, and the weekend after that, we expect to be a trio!! Craziness to think of it that way!

Oh and p.s. - here's the picture of the walmart bedding that we got for about 1/3 of the price as the BRU bedding:




I think we did pretty good for 1/3 the price!!! And that's the first toy/stuffed animal I ever bought for Kaua - a firefighter wish-bear, just like his daddy. =)

it's been a while! 35-36 weeks

It's been a while since I last posted! I'm now 36 weeks pregnant and considered full term! Just 4 more weeks till D day, though I wish it could be sooner. A lot has been going on for me, and sadly, I haven't had a chance to post about it because my work is killing me. I'm sooooo looking forward to the day I give birth, in large part because I'll be done working. I'll be done working because...our house is in escrow!!!! We received two offers in the two weeks that we've put it on the market and we countered one of them to get the price we wanted, and they accepted yesterday!!! If all goes well, which we'll have to pray about, our closing date will be December 22!!!! I'll be home for Christmas!!! Crazy! I'm not even sure how I'm going to tell my work, or what that means for maternity leave, medical, my christmas work bonus, etc (but I'm going to worry about that one day at a time).

Now, on to baby stuff. First, my dad bought and shipped over our car seat!!! It looks great and yesterday, my DH installed the base into our car (now that was interesting, but we've got it done, so we're good).



This is a Graco Snug Ride 32 car seat and I've chosen these colors so that if (and I'm hoping when) we have baby #2 (who I'm praying will be a girl), it'll be color neutral enough. I've of course, also chosen the carseat b/c it accomodates infants who are 32 lbs and 32 inches long, so Kaua should be able to use this hopefully till he's 1 year old. Sometimes, when babies are big, they outgrow their carseat before they turn 1, and the recommendation is that infants stay rear facing until they are 1.

Yesterday, DH and I had our hospital tour. It wasn't much, but we at least got to see where we need to go when its time and the facilities are pretty nice. The wing is fairly new at our hospital, so there's a lot of nice amenities and upgrades from the old L&D wing.

I've also flew back home for my mom's baby shower last weekend. It was so nice to be back home and be near my doggie! We had such a good time and I got tons of stuff that we'll need, and tons of stuff we dont need, but it's the thought that counts right? Luckily, we've been able to return a lot of the big ticket items we dont need, so I can (and have been) using the store credits to get stuff we do need.

I've solved the bedding dilemma and bought a different bedding from WAlmart for much less than the exhorbitant BRU price. I dont have a picture yet, but I will go take one now and upload it during my next posting. During this trip home, I really visualized DH and I actually living there, and I could do it. It was nice. On my previous trip home, I was worried about moving there because I felt like it would be too slow for us compared to the city we live in now....but over this trip, because we were all there, my doggie was there, and we spent a lot of time with family, it reminded me of why we were moving home, and I was happy. It'll be quite an adjustment, moving back in with mom, but we'll do it. And the goal will be to save up enough money over the next few years to buy again!

And finally, a pregnancy update. New on the pregnancy front are Braxton Hicks. I've been having at least 1 or 2 a day. Usually more. They're not sore, and they're super infrequent, but they're there. I can tell I'm having one b/c my tummy feels tight and I can see the outline of baby boy a little more in my tummy (like two huge bumps in the middle of my belly).

During my appointment last week, the doc had to do a vaginal strep culture. Since he was down there, he did an internal check to see if I was dilated or effaced, and nope, none of the above. =( Looks like baby is still going to keep cooking. Bab was head down and in the right position so that's the good news. Doc was also happy because he said he wants baby not to come until anytime after today. But man oh man, is this last month the MOST UNCOMFORTABLE! I'm a little swollen in my feet, but not much. But the backache has stepped up and the RLP has stepped up considerably. It's really really uncomfortable to get up from sitting positions or lying positions. It even hurts a lot sometimes when I'm walking. Baby boy's kicks are distracting at times, but that's nothing new. And of course, I'm getting huger and huger, which makes me feel so blah......I dont even want to take maternity photos anymore b/c of how big and bloated I look and feel. Pregnancy glow?? Not me! But the good news is we're now considered full term, so whenever baby boy is ready to come out into this world, he'll do fine. I'm ready for him now!!!

Here are my 35 and 36 week photos:





As of today, my circumfrence is 40.25 inches.

34 weeks and crib bedding

Alrighty, we're down another week! Just 6 more to go till D-Day (due date) and one more to go till Mom's baby shower.


Here's the latest belly photo and I'm measuring at 40" even. (Doesn't the growing ever stop???)




Newest (well not that new, but totally on my mind today) pregnancy symptom is crazy baby bladder urges. I can literally feel him moving around in my belly and stomping on my bladder and man, it feels sore. I really feel like I have to go to the bathroom immediately, and I when I go, there's not much coming out. It drives me crazy! His movements are so strong now. I'm definitely getting to that point where I'm ready to have him out soon (though I know I'll yearn for the peace I have now once he comes).

Also update on the house situation - we got our photographs taken today and our house will be listed Tuesday morning (which means its officially on the market)! These first few weeks will be the MOST important in terms of getting offers. I pray pray pray that we get offered our listing price or more. I found out from my neighbor that he also plans to list his place for sale in the next few weeks! Ack! I told him to please wait b/c I dont want him under cutting our price (which I think he'll do b/c he has more equity than we do and can afford it). For now, I'm not going to worry about it. It's in God's hands. All I can do is think positive and pray for the best.

Also, as I was perusing Babies R Us today, I did a potentially silly impulse purchase. I saw that a 6 piece crib bedding set similar to the one we had registered for was on clearance for $139 (regular price $189), and the matching mobile was on sale for $30 (regular $49). (Silly me, I see the "clearance" sign and I automatically think it's a great deal and that I should get it before I miss the chance.)

I brought it home and set it up (w/o the window valence b/c it wont work for the type of blinds in our nursery) and I like it. But after talking to my mom and a friend, I'm realizing that it may still be a bit pricey, especially if I'm not going to actually be using the quilt for a long long time (due to the SIDS risk) and the window valence. I'm thinking I should return it and look elsewhere for more bargains.....especially since money is super tight right now for us. I did ask, they'll accept a return withing 90 days as long as I have the original receipt and the original packaging.





What'd everyone else do for crib bedding? Or what do you think, keepers or return? My heart is not super set on the pattern/theme, so I dont mind getting another one.

33 weeks, PNA appt and baby showers!

So much has been going on since I last posted, but I've just been so busy that I only got a chance to post it now. So here's my weekend in numerical paragraph fashion:

1) Most importantly, we reached the end of another week - 33 weeks!! The belly finally grew 1/2 an inch to 39.5". And here's my latest belly photo:



2) My work threw myself and two of my other coworkers who are pregnant a surprise baby shower on Friday. I had a feeling something was going on b/c another coworker let it slip and I could see the streamers and balloons in our large conference room as I passed by. But it was still very thoughtful that they did this for us (me) and I'm very very grateful. I'm also very very grateful for the fancy stroller that I got!!! The Mac.laren Quest Sport - in black and champagne. It'll definitely come in handy for when Kaua outgrows his little carseat and the snap n go stroller frame we have. (P.s. My daddy said he'll buy us Kaua's carseat last night!! Yay!!!) Last big ticket item on my list -- breast pump. =)

3)My inlaws threw me a baby shower on Saturday! I was unsure who would attend but there were a fair amount of people - approximately 20! It was really nice and again, the thought was there and I sure do feel loved and know that Kaua will be loved. Baby Kaua got some really cool stuff, like a swimmer diaper for the beach, a tiny little wetsuit and some really practical baby stuff like handmade blankets/quilts, onesies, a thermometer, and an electronic aspirator (never even heard of an electronic one before!). And I got two nursing pillows!! (I'll probably return one). And Kaua got some very very cute clothes including the MOST ADORABLE firefighter outfit ever!! Sadly its for a 3 month old, so I cant make it be his coming home outfit from the hospital (actually that's a good thing, he'll definitely fit into it no matter how big he is at birth and I already have a TON of handmedown newborn clothes).

4) I had another PNA appointment on Friday and everything is going A-Ok with Kaua. These appointments are seriously sooooooooooo mundane and boring, there's really nothing much to say about them. I did ask my doctor if I could attend a haunted lagoon boat ride that evening and he saw nothing wrong with it, since the ride was very smooth (nothing like a rollacoaster or other thrill ride). He just cautioned that if it was too loud, like a rock concert, I should probably avoid it, but it wasnt. We confirmed that Kaua is still head down, face down, which we're hoping he'll stay b/c that's ideal for birth.

5) Last but certainly not least, we finally picked a realtor to sell our place. It's a tandem team and they're actually the realtors who sold the house to us!! They are a FULL service realtor, which means they will charge the full price commission, but they are offering to do SO MUCH for us in terms of staging our house and cleaning it etc. all on their own dime that for me it's worth it. They're also offering us small discounts where they can, like offering to pay for the GE tax that we'd have to pay on their commission, offering to get us a discount on the closing costs for the escrow company, offering to pay for the cleaning services to clean our house, and offering their own personal time to stage my home with their own stuff or stuff that they'll buy. It's a huge relief that they will do this for us, since my looming due date is near, and I dont have much "bending" capability to do significantly cleaning in our house. They also were sweet in trying to "butter" us up when they came over to do their spiel, they brought us homemade delicious banana bread and a baby gift for Kaua (a box full of baby toys that are designed to enhance his development as he grows...very very cool!) They're also very positive on getting the sales price we want for our home. Granted, b/c we have very little equity in our home, we'll have to come out of pocket to sell the home, but we knew that going forward and are prepared for it. Who knows though, i need to only think positive and perhaps our home will sell for more than the list price!!!! The house goes on the market next week and the first few weeks will be very significant in terms of getting offers. If we get any offers right away, we'll know we're priced reasonably.

Believe and Receive right!?!

Naughty girl

Ok, I'm guilty. I've been peeking at my baby registry. I've been telling myself that I'm looking at the registries only to make changes and adjustments (b/c I'll find something new I want to register for, or change my mind about something I've previously registered for). But I recently realized that you can tell when someone's purchased something on your registry. So just yesterday, even though I really didn't have any "changes" to make, I peeked at my registry (actually two of the three that I have) and saw that someone bought something! (The baby bjourn air carrier!!) Yippee!!! That makes me so excited! But it also makes me feel super guilty, because it's like peeking at your birthday/christmas present before the actual day. So from today on, I'm going to promise myself not look at my registries, unless I absolutely have to (for instance, I get something from a shower that was on my registry and therefore need to take it off so that no one buys the same thing for me at another* shower). I realize I just gave myself an out to be naughty again, but I'm pretty good at following through with what I say.

I cant wait till we get everything together for the baby. It'll make it feel more "real" to me to see the nursery set up and all of the baby items ready for when Kaua comes home.

*Yes, I'm a lucky gal - I'm having three showers! -- The In law's shower (this saturday), my mommy's shower (Nov. 1) and my friends' shower (Nov. 22).

29 week photo

Ok, this post is belated. I didn't get to it this weekend, and have been quite busy at work (when I usually post my blogs), so haven't had a chance to get to it. But wanted to share it:



I didn't get to measure myself on Sunday when I took the photo, but I measured myself today and I'm 39.75 inches! Yikes! That's huge!

I'm really really feeling big and I think I look really big too. I've been having the hubsters help me get up off the couch and stuff (it's kinda sad). I probably can get up by myself, but I just feel so big and cumbersome, that it's so much easier to have someone pull me up. I cant believe I've got 10.5 more weeks to grow!!

Cute thought for the day....found out my close friends were planning to throw me a surprise baby shower today. (Well, I found out about the surprise today, not that they were throwing me the shower today.) Another friend inadvertently let it slip. It's all good though. I'm happy I know about it b/c it makes planning for it so much easier and I wont be sad or feel weird at the thought that my friends "forgot about me." Which I know they wouldn't have forgotten, so I think I would have figured out a "surprise" was in store....I think. I really didn't know that it was coming....But anyways, I already feel excited for this baby shower and feel extremely touched that my friends wanted to try and surprise me with it.

Focusing on baby

I went back and reread my prior posts: when I first found out I was pregnant, that first OB visit where we saw the heartbeat, that second appointment where we looked for baby's heartbeat, to that 16 week and 20 week appointment where we held our breath to see if Kaua was alright and healthy, to those first movement milestones. What an amazing journey to re-read. It made me realize that my most recent posts - fretting over DH's job, and money and the home, well.....they're all so trivial. Right now, the best thing going on for me is this little guy kicking inside me. I realized, I haven't posted about him lately, and that to me, is the focus of my blog. (Well technically, this blog was supposed to be about my journey to motherhood, so I guess all the other things count as well, but still, I prefer to keep blogging about Kaua and have him be my main focus). So this post will be an update on the pregnancy:

Kaua is still a little mover - as I'm sure all babies are at this point. Over the past few days, I've noticed that he likes to hang out on my right side. Literally pressing up and out on that side. I feel kicks and taps else where, but some huge body part is constantly pressing up against my right. It's really cool looking because sometimes, you can just see something sticking out, like a round bump. It's also sometimes uncomfortable and I find myself sort of massaging and somewhat pushing him back in --- like go more in the middle son, you're making me uncomfortable. (Dont worry, I dont press hard, I'm very gentle and I'm pretty sure I'm not hurting him). I also notice when he's likely to be head up (breech) because the movements/kicks are more low. I dont like those days as much b/c although I feel his movements, there not as noticeable so to me, not as fun. Generally, movements are up high though, so I think he's for the most part, head down.

I'm noticing that I'm more short of breath lately. Nothing that impedes my exercising, but enough so that I notice that, yup, my uterus is pressing against my lungs, making breathing a little more labored. My sleeping is still pretty good, but I find myself getting uncomfortable in bed more easily. I'll toss and turn just to be sure that I've got the right position, with a pillow supporting my belly and a pillow supporting my back and a pillow in between my legs. And man, is it HOT!!! I've got a fan blowing right at me, and I'm still sweating at all parts where my body has to touch another part of my body or is touching a pillow. I'm normally a lover of hot, I like to be warm (b/c I always feel cold), so it's obvious that Kaua is making my body temperature higher. I also find that sitting on my couch is not as comfortable unless I'm in the reclined position with the leg rest up and a pillow behind my head or back (thankfully we bought those couches with the built in lazyboy recliners in all the cushions). I also noticed last night in the shower that I cannot see my vajayjay any more (no more grooming unless I have a hand held mirror). I used to be able to sort of look around the belly to see down there, but nope, no more. Contemplating getting DH involved in the grooming process....we'll see what he thinks. lol.

Lets see, what else. Oh my mom and I are talking daily now about upcoming plans for her to be here when he's due. We're also getting excited in planning my baby shower. We've ordered invitations and made a banner for the wall. We're discussing table decorations, gifts, etc. We're going with a "warrior" theme and a "firefighter" them since Wyatt = little warrior and DH is a firefighter. It's kinda fun because it's also football season and our local college team are the warriors and DH and I are football fans. Super duper fun. =) Although Kaua will be the 4th grandchild for my mom, I think this experience is exciting because I'm her only daughter and so she gets to play a major role and in this pregnancy and birth. This is the whole reason why I want to have a girl one day. I am enjoying all of this QT with my mom, just as I did when I was getting married. It's soooooooooo fun to have a best friend who is all about you. =)

Well, that's all on the pregnancy update front. 29 week belly pic and post coming up this weekend. =)

28 weeks and crib is set up!

We made it another week! Here's my 28 week belly photo and interestingly, there was no growth in belly inches:



Newer symptoms are a feeling of heaviness in my lower belly/uterus. It's a little difficult to describe. Its not BH but more like I'm just getting bigger (Kaua is, I mean) and I can feel his weight more. Occassionally, I feel sharp pangs in my lower sides, which I'm sure is round ligament pain, as well as an occasional sharp pain in my left butt cheek, which I'm pretty sure is sciatic nerve pain. I usualy only feel these when changing positions (from sitting to standing or vice versa) and I read in WTE that that's normal. Once in a while I feel a little dull cramp-like achy pain, which I'm not sure what its caused by. i'm not alarmed at it b/c it's dull and occasional. I think it could be Kaua kicking me in my cervix, but I dont feel a kick low, which would further indicate its him. Perhaps he's sitting on my cervix sometimes? Not sure, so I'll call my doctor if I get concerned and really monitor myself when I feel that (make sure it's not preterm labor or something). I'm also starting to notice pregnancy fatigue more in the sense that I'm feeling less energetic than usual. Even in the mornings, I'm feeling tired and sometimes like I wouldn't mind just staying in bed. We also set up Kaua's crib this weekend and it looks great! (despite not having any bedding).

As we put the crib together (mostly DH doing the work with me occassionally assisting), I noticed the difficulty in getting up and down from sitting on the floor and overall I just felt the need to sit more often. One of my friends also came by to drop off newborn sized diapers that her daughter no longer fits, so we got a nice little starter supply of diapers. She also dropped off a cute little blue bathrobe for Kaua.

Previously, the room that Kaua's crib is in had a futon bed/couch. We were able to sell that for $30 over the weekend (it wasn't in the best of conditions so the money was a nice bonus since we were just going to throw it out), so now Kaua's room has the crib and diaper changer in it. I like walking by it and peeking in and seeing the nursery developing (though not as fancy and visually appealing as I'd prefer). It's just so exciting that we'll be having a child in a couple months! (And a little overwhelming too.). There's a lot more I want to do to the room, but I'm hesitant b/c we're moving, so I'm a litte saddened at the thought that we wont be living here for very long to enjoy it.

Which brings me on to another topic. Our move. You all know that DH is currently working away from me, so we're commuting on the weekends until I can move to be with him. The good news is, he is finished with his training early and will be put out on the field soon. The bad news is, he was just told that he will not be stationed where we thought he was going to be stationed, meaning his schedule will not be very accomodating to commuting back and forth. He's appealed to his chief about the transfer and the chief is trying to see what he can do, but there's no guarantees at this point. There are good things and bad things to this new twist in our situation.

Good news is, this may hasten my permanent move to be with DH quicker. And when I move, the schedule will work out just fine. With the prior situation, I initially planned to give birth here then move to be with DH at my leisure while he communted back and forth till then. Now, I will still give birth here, but may move shortly thereafter (maybe even not returning to work after maternity leave). The bad news is almost purely cosmetic-ish in that I'm reluctant to move out of our "home" and move in with my mom (though I love her, it's so hard to move back home after owning your own). DH, myself and Kaua will be living in a 3 bedroom with mom and her BF. Though that's still plenty of room for all of us, it wont be our own home filled with our stuff chosen specifically for our own comfort. We'll be sharing everything. I wont get to do a nursery with Kaua b/c the spare bedroom is currently my mom's office. Kaua will likely be rooming in with me and DH. It also may be a while before we can afford to get our own place, so we'll be with my mom for probably a couple years. I will also be leaving my job earlier than desired. I work for a great company and am disappointed at having to leave them and eventually look for new work (in a market which is not as great as it is here). Leaving my job will also put additional financial strains on us since we'll be living off of DH's already reduced income alone. Plus we'll all have to go under DH's medical plan which may be difficult at first based on the enrollment timing rules for the healthcare provider. Also, although DH and I will be together (yippee!!!) in one place as it should be especially when raising our first child, it will take some adjusting to the new town since we've built our lives where I'm currently living (all of our friends are here, there's a lot more to do here in the big city, etc). I really love where we live now, so I'm going to miss it. I also wanted Kaua to spend some time (just for a little) in the town which is his namesake (or at least the weather of the town), but such may not be the case since we may be moving so soon.

Either way, we've got some really decisions to make soon, depending on where DH gets stationed, and coupling this with the impending birth of our first child, is somewhat overwhelming at times for me.

But thankfully, so far Kaua is healthy and that's all that really matters. The rest is all negotiable. So for that I praise God. As for the rest, I'm going to pray to God to direct my path when determining what the best choices are for our family.

Crib came!

I order the crib on monday from Ama.zon, and it came on Thursday. Crazy! Who knew it'd arrive so fast? =) Too bad DH isn't here till next weekend to set it up. But I'm going to fly to visit him tonight and will be there till Tuesday! Yippee!! I'm so exited. I miss him and my doggy, even though I just sent them off on Monday as well. It'll be nice to see them and the rest of my family. I'm really looking forward to spending time with them all. =)

I take my blood glucose screening test today. I wont find out the results till my next PNA which is next week Wednesday. I really hope I pass. I asked the doctor whethere there was anything special I needed to be doing to prepare for it and she said no, just dont eat candy or drink soda right before the test. I attended a birthday BBQ for a friend last night and there were a TON of desserts, my pregnancy weakness. I hope that doesn't alter the results.

Crib & changer

So with just about 3 more months to go, (and after reading some fellow bloggers who are gearing up for the arrival of baby with completions or almost completions of nurseries and realizing that I'm so not on the ball with this stuff), I decided to place my order for Kaua's crib! It's the Da Vin ci Park er 4 in 1 crib in coffee color. I got it from ama.zon for $269 and the shipping is FREE! I chose it b/c it's got a drawer underneath to store bedding (but the drawer is detachable if we dont like it), and it's got a dip in the front to help when bending over the crib to put baby inside. I also like the curverature designs of the back portion of the crib and in the crib legs. Its not a drop side crib, which I read isn't the safest for baby. It's also pretty sturdy (I got to see one in person when visiting the NEX with a friend).




I'm a little worried about spending the money when money is tight, but I figure, the crib, the stroller, the car seat and the breast pump...those are the necessities I'll need right away. So my goal is to purchase several of the big ticket items now.


We already got the gra.co stroller frame for $40 off craig.slist.






And this past weekend, my coworker gave us a really nice changing table that she'll no longer use. It's not the right color, it's in a natural wood, but my mom's BF is a carpenter so when I move back home, he'll be able to refinish it for me in a matching color to the crib. For now, we'll just have to go unmatching. Baby wont mind. I haven't taken a picture of it yet, but it looks similar to this:







I'm envisioning using some left over wedding GCs to buy some woven baskets to put on the shelves to help keep neat in appearance any baby products I store on the shelves.

Next up, the breast pump and the infant car seat. I'm secretly hoping to get these at my baby showers (yes, I think I'm having two -one for friends and one for family at my home town where DH lives, and potentially a third, with coworkers but I'm not sure b/c no one's said anything to me), but if I dont, they will be pretty easily purchased from the local discount stores.


I've also registered for several other big ticket items that are not absolute necessities, like a pack-n-play with bassinet and a glider which I'm hoping to get also as gifts, but if I dont, I'm sure I can manage.


Even though we're moving, I'm hoping to get some before and after pictures of the pseudo nursery. I call it pseudo, because we wont be doing major rennovations, but it'll have to do for the time being. I'll post them when I take 'em.


With 3 months to go, it's time to buckle down and start preparing for baby to come!

21 week belly photo & nursery thoughts

Ok, this blog post is a little late, but here's my 21 week belly photo.



My belly is now 37 inches around and I think its getting pretty big. I'm thinking that I may start taking photos of the belly with clothes on, since we dont wanna get too graphic here. So here's the same belly shot, just with my top down.



Dont I look thinner with clothes on? lol Also, today at work was the very first time that an absolute stranger (well, a potential client whom initially met me when I was sitting down and thus, hiding my belly) asked me how far along in my pregnancy I was and when I was due. I love those questions, b/c it makes me feel pregnant and not fat. I love being able to say when I'm due and that we're expecting our first child who is a boy. I feel so proud! The funny thing is before she asked, I had almost forgotten I was pregnant. For those two hours in the meeting, I had been so engrossed in the topic of discussion, I hadn't thought about the pregnancy at all.

I'm also getting just a teeny bit jealous of some of the mommies on my community chat boards whose tummies are still super tiny and cute. I'm feeling somewhat of an oaf and am afraid the weight may just continue to pack on. Oh well, it's the price I'm willing to pay for motherhood. It'll all be worth it.

My newest all consuming baby thought for the week (starting just this morning) is decorating the nursery (the last couple of weeks it was deciding on a carseat and stroller, but I got those figured out and have registered for what I wanted). I'm not much of a "decorator". My walls at home are generally bare (paint free, I do have pictures and paintings and the like), which is what I prefer. So I wasn't planning on painting the nursery, especially since we have plans to move in the next year or so (yeah, we're moving! but that's a whole 'nother post). But now, as I sit and watch those baby shows -- you know...Bringing Home Baby or Birth Day, I realize that I need to at least have a crib (which I expected), some shelves or a book case to put babies toys and dolls on (unexpected), a dresser or something to put the clothes in (unexpected), and I even realized, where the heck am I going to store all of his diapers and other baby stuff (the closet which currently contains our ironing board, vacuum, snow clothes and other crap hopefully)?

Yikes?! Looks like I better get planning. So my goal is to first buy a crib and start planning the nursery around that -- (like ideally, I'd want the wood of the crib matching the shelves and dresser etc). Our goal is to NOT spend too much money, b/c we've got some incredible financial strains up ahead (as part of our move, DH is taking a pay cut for 1 year in order to transfer, and I'll be on UNPAID maternity leave if I want to take any), but of course, I want the nursery to look cute. So my goal is to find the balance between inexpensive, but good looking, and of course, practical and safe. =) Ideally, I'd want the stuff to last too, b/c we'll probably be taking the furniture with us when we move and I'd love for baby #2 to be able to use the stuff too (yup, there's a desire for more after this!). So the hunt begins.........

Felt the little firecracker again

I tend to do this often, I post about one thing, and the very next day, the little firecracker does the exact opposite to prove me wrong. (Hope this isn't a trend growing here. =) On second thought, if he wants to do things to NOT make me worried, then I'm all for it!)

I felt him move today! Yay! I felt a few little kicks or taps just now. I also could be imagining this, but I think I also felt more movement afterwards, like rolling around or swimming or something that made me envision baby was moving. I don't know, I just felt like there was a bit more than a tap. It's all pretty cool and makes me smile because I'm pretty sure it's him. It's all still really light though, almost like a twitch feeling in my ab muscle. It's also a little higher up then the last week or two, but that makes sense because my uterus is growing (signified by my belly which seems to have "popped" within the last few days). A few brave people have even been commenting on my belly and asking whether I'm pregnant. (Lucky for them, and me, I am! Yay!)

All of your comments on my last post were reassuring (Thanks!), especially Jamie's comment about how she would feel movement, then not much, then movement again. Makes me feel less insane to hear about how others have similar concerns and thoughts.

And Nikki, it's a date! (I hope our children dont mind us setting them up on blind dates this soon!)



I received my udder cover in the mail yesterday. It's not very great. It appears kinda small, as if someone may get a free show if they're looking at me from the side while I'm breast feeding. The part that supposed to go around your head or neck to hold up the cover is not very convenient either. The strap is held together by those two half moon ring circles, you know, those belt buckle looking things that I never know how to use. I'm glad this thing was free, but now I'm regretting the $8.95 I had to spend to ship it here. Ah well, you live and you learn, perhaps I'm just not using it right b/c it looks pretty big in the photo.





In other news - the MIL - is here with us. It's not so bad, because I'm rarely home when she is and vise versa. She's really a very nice lady too. One of my little pet peeves though is that she doesn't offer to help clean or do other little things around the house that I would think would be appropriate if you're being someone's house guest for TWO MONTHS. Like last night, DH cooked dinner for him and her - I had dinner away from home with some friends - and when it came time for cleaning up, only DH was in the kitchen putting away food, washing dishes and cleaning up while she watched t.v. I felt bad for him, so I went in to help. She didn't do anything or even offer assistance. Perhaps, she's just trying to stay out of the way? Maybe, as we grow more comfortable with each other, she'll offer to help....or maybe that's just the way it goes with her, where if you cook you clean? (This has happened before when we've invited her over for dinner and she doesn't offer assistance to help clean up.) Hmmm, not quite sure if I want to broach this issue with DH just yet. I'll see how it goes over the course of the next week or two. I plan to do some big house cleaning on Friday when I have the day off and DH is at work. If she's at home, I wonder if she'll offer assistance? I probably would decline it, but it would be nice to be asked.

Ok, enough with the MIL bashing. I feel guilty already, because she really is a nice person.

More baby items and a trip

Yesterday, I bought my own first ever baby item. (I'm noting when I bought my first ever maternity clothes, and when I received my first ever baby gift). I bought a breastfeeding cover thingy from uddercover.com. Well, I didn't actually buy it. I saw on babycenter.com that you could get a free one if you logged into the website and typed in the code: Freeone. I did, and I got a blue breast feeding cover (it's pretty basic and plain looking). All you have to do is pay the $8.95 for shipping. I thought, hey, you will always use this, and since it was free, I couldn't resist.

This past weekend, I bought the book, Baby Bargains. I got the latest edition, which I believe is the 8th edition for this year. I just started reading it, and I'm hoping it will be helpful when I need to start buying things for this baby. I've heard good things about the book and its seems helpful with its product reviews and comparisons and tips. I'm not sure how much I'll really use the book though, b/c I'm hoping to get a lot of hand me downs from friends and family to help ease this financial strain that we'll be facing soon. (DH is transferring jobs this Sept. which means a pay cut for about 1 year and we're moving to another town after baby is born). But I got a coupon from Borders for 40% off one store item over the Father's Day weekend, and so, I bought the book at almost half price. It should provide some assistance to those items that we'll have to buy.

Tonight, hubsters and I are flying back to my hometown for the weekend. It'll be nice because it'll be the first time that my family will get to see me pregnant. (Too bad I dont look very pregnant).

Also today, the MIL is flying into our town. She'll be staying with us for...get this.....TWO MONTHS!! Holy cow! She's a great lady, but c'mon, two whole months with your MIL??? And DH is gone every other 24 hours for work. Yikes!

(Isn't it nice to be griping and complaining about this mundane stuff? MUCH MUCH better than the last several posts about spotting scares and abnormal quad results). I'm still very very cognizant of the fact that I'm so blessed to have this baby and thanking the Lord every day for him. He'll be perfect and healthy, just as God intended. This baby is blessed.

14 week belly shot

This weekend I've officially graduated from the 1st trimester (according to ALL SOURCES...even though I've been considering myself graduated since 12 weeks). Yay me!!!! Or should I say, Yay baby!!!!! Keep up the good work!!

And I believe I will start taking belly shots more often (like every week or two), just to track the belly growth progress which is supposed to increase dramatically from here on out (though I have yet to see it). So here's my 14 week belly shot taken yesterday:


Like the other belly shots, I've added it to my photo flickr on the side bar. I also just started to measure my belly and its 34 inches. (For you IRL friends, looks like you'll have a step up in the competition if we should ever plan that game of guessing the circumference of my belly). Still think I'm not quite looking pregnant, and still just bloated, but I'm feeling encouraged that I'm getting there. I should consider myself lucky though, b/c I fit into most of my regular clothes and just need a belly band for my jeans and pants. I have switched out of my regular shorts and into my maternity shorts, which are quite comfy.

This past weekend, I made my FIRST ever purchase for the baby. It's what I'd consider a "fluff" item (something that isn't a necessity, like a crib or bottle etc.) but it was something that I've always wanted to get for my and DH's first child, so I'm happy. More on that to come. DH and I also went to go peruse one store to get ideas on prices of baby item necessities and man-oh-man are those expensive. But I've picked up the book, Baby Bargains, which I've heard good things about and am looking to save and avoid stuff that is unnecessary. I believe this journey could be fun or it could be stressful...for now, I'm thinking it'll be fun....(we'll see though....).

Bloated & Baby Gift

This is going to be a double-topic post.

First up, here's the latest belly pic at 8 weeks 2 days, taken approximately 4 weeks after my first belly pic (shown in the side bar). You can tell I'm getting bloated. In fact, I purchased a bella band on line, (my very first maternity thing EVER!) and started using it today to help keep some of my work pants up without buttoning up. What's the reason for all this weight (besides eating like crazy)? Apparently the baby is the size of a raspberry and is to grow to the size of a large green olive by the end of this week. My uterus is also supposed to be the size of a grapefruit right now, while normally it's the size of a fist. I cannot wait till I really start showing, rather than just looking chunky and bloated. I noticed that at night, my little belly pooch sticks out more than it does in the mornings when I wake up. That's supposed to be attributed to my full bowel and stomach from eating food during the day. It's the case of the disappearing little belly. lol.


Next up, my FIRST EVER baby item!!! It was purchased for me by my co-worker. She's taken my pregnancy to heart since she was there for me during my 2nd miscarriage. She's cried through my heartaches and rejoiced in my triumphs. She also the one who's been giving me Bible study lessons. She's a little overzealous in my pregnancy, but her support is always welcomed.


And here's a close up of the picture. It says "Mommy Loves Me" and in that, it's very accurate.



This is a big step for me, buying maternity clothes (well a belly band) and having a baby item in my possession. I've never gotten this far before in my prior pregnancies...well technically, I found out about my 2nd MC at 9weeks 2 days and had the D&C at what would have been the end of my 10th week...but hey, who's counting?

I'm still very tentative in making any definite plans about baby names, nursery items, and other pregnancy related things. I like to focus on the imediate week and work on getting through that. For me, it's all about celebrating days and weeks at this point. Maybe sometime in my 2nd tri-mester I'll get really serious.